Should I buy it?

[Lee5005]

Personally, I don't concur with a number of responses on this thread.

Its a very decent bike. Forget stuff like it not having boost spacing or anything on the forks, that's a non issue for 95% of normal people and I'd very much doubt you'll have issues getting spare parts if anything needs replacing, but the reality is, its doubtful you WILL need to replace things like forks etc anyway.

The only thing you do need to be wary of is the battery, however all the evidence shows that Yamaha haven't skimped with the quality of the cells, so if the owner has stored it properly, chances are you're going to be fine for a good few more years, despite the age. Look for posts here by George Henry about his yamaha haibike and the age of his battery. And I'm also talking from experience, as my wife has the female version of the bike in question here, and that's even older and has done something like 5000+ miles and the battery is still good. I'm sure it must have dropped in capacity somewhat, but the fact that its not easily quantifiable speaks volumes.

Ultimately, the best advice on this thread is something you indeed seem to be doing, which is borrow the bike and try it. So fully charge it up, and ride it until the battery is empty, just keeping an eye on whether the charge does something strange like drop from 40% to zero in one go. If it doesn't do that, and its a nice gradual(ish) decrease with a decent range, I'd say you're good to go, and given the price and availability of new ebikes, well ... I think your mate is going to get the £1000 he's asking.

if the battery is knackered, then there are 3rd party ones out there for £300-400, so negotiate with your friend who's selling.
But if it was me, I'd be VERY interested in getting this bike.

Thank you for a very honest reply.

I did buy it in the end and am absolutely loving it, battery life is fine and it flies along. I use it every day.
The brakes were a bit 'soft' so I changed the disks and pads and all good now. I have noticed I need to be careful of braking distances being longer than I'm used to due to the extra weight and momentum.

Mid drive is 100% the way to go, it feels and rides like a normal bike but as if you had a pro cyclist and not me on it

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply, it is very much appreciated.

 

[soundwave]

well you have the link for a 3rd party batt so every charge is money in the pocket

 

[Nealh]

It feels and rides like normal bike except is has some 500w + of power added, why do people insist an ebike is like a normal push bike when the answer if very far from the truth !!!

People need to just be honest instead of pretending they are similar, the reason people buy ebikes is they can't ride a push far because of the extra effort needed.

 

[Lee5005]

It feels and rides like normal bike except is has some 500w + of power added, why do people insist an ebike is like a normal push bike when the answer if very far from the truth !!!

People need to just be honest instead of pretending they are similar, the reason people buy ebikes is they can't ride a push far because of the extra effort needed.

Wow, some one is tired with a big old axe to grind !!!!!

A lot of hub drives I have tested felt like you were being pushed, or pulled. My point was with the mid drive it feels much more natural, like a real bike. Three more effort I put in the more i get out. But we both know you realised that.

 

[soundwave]

get a dongle and it will be like another bike altogether tho it will half the range of the batt

 

[Lee5005]

Funny you should say that, it came with a dongle fitted

 

[soundwave]

 

[Lee5005]

I'm not racing around at silly speeds but I like the dongle because it stops the power cutting out, keeps things nice and smooth.

 

[soundwave]

been riding round like that for nearly 9 years now tho max speed is 39.6 on the flat

 

[hopperhenderson]

Hi all

I'm after some advice if I may.

A friend has offered me a haibike sduro hardseven SL 27.5 Yamaha 2016 for £1k.
He bought it new and hardly used it, only done 350 miles.

My first question is if the battery has not been used much will it still be ok.
I know if he had put lots of miles on it a 6 year old battery would be showing signs of age, but what if it is not used?

It only has a 400Wh battery, but I'm not planning long journeys, just running around town, going to the tennis club etc.

So basically is it a good deal or is it being 6 years old a no go ?

ps the bike looks to be in very good condition.

Any comments will be gladly received.

Thanks

if you are not planning long journey so it is very good deal you can deal with him.

 

[nigelbb]

Wow, some one is tired with a big old axe to grind !!!!!

A lot of hub drives I have tested felt like you were being pushed, or pulled. My point was with the mid drive it feels much more natural, like a real bike. Three more effort I put in the more i get out. But we both know you realised that.

This is also true of hub drive eBikes with a torque sensor instead of a cadence sensor. My Wisper 705 Torque "feels much more natural, like a real bike".

 

[Wisper Bikes]

This is also true of hub drive eBikes with a torque sensor instead of a cadence sensor. My Wisper 705 Torque "feels much more natural, like a real bike".

You are absolutely right Nigel, it’s the torque sensor that gives a bike a natural riding feel, not the position of the motor.

Selling both mid and hub drive motors I can confirm our position is that the only real difference a mid drive motor makes is the power goes through the drive train so steep hill climbing is easier. Mid motors are certainly better on a mountain bike for instance. The down side is chains and sprockets wear much faster on a mid drive bike, the motor noise is more obvious and maintenance is more tricky. The weight distribution is a little better on a mid drive too… unless like me one is a bit if a heavy weight then there is hardly any noticeable difference.

All the best, David

 

[Nealh]

Wow, some one is tired with a big old axe to grind !!!!!

No axe to grind, just find it amusing how so many people compare a bike that produces 500w power or more, then go on to say it rides like a normal push bike.

I have hub bikes and a TS mid drive kit bike and tbh there is very little between the feel in how they ride, with hub bikes it is dependent on the control system used.
Most folks havent't tried a proper hub bike control system and fall in to the BS about mid drive all the time.
Rudementry cheaper hub bikes use a speed control system, these give max current all the time and offer no real feel to riding a bike. All one gets is a hard shove in the back all the time.
Compare it to a torque simulation controller kit with cadence sensing then one like a torque sensing bike can get a better ride feel esp in low power modes where one can get approx. 60 - 120w of power and actually get some health/exercise benifit from the system by exerting oneself more.